BROTHERS SENTENCED IN 2007 SHOOTING DEATH

Two brothers who pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in connection with the 2007 shooting death of a man in Encanto were sentenced Monday to prison.

Jaime and Ramiro Lizarraga, ages 21 and 25, respectively, were charged in the slaying of 53-year-old David Coronado of Lemon Grove.

Authorities believe the siblings fled to Mexico immediately after the shooting. They were arrested in Tijuana last year.

The younger brother, Jaime, was sentenced to 18 years in prison during a hearing in San Diego Superior Court. In addition to manslaughter, he had also admitted to an assault on another inmate in county jail.

Ramiro Lizarraga, who was on parole at the time of the shooting, was sentenced to a 17-year prison term. He has a previous conviction from 2006 for assault with a firearm.

Police and prosecutors said the shooting occurred in the early hours of Nov. 18, 2007, in a backyard off Brooklyn Avenue near 61st Street.

Deputy District Attorney Christine Bannon said the victim was hanging out and drinking beer with friends hours before the shooting. As night fell, the brothers showed up with a gun and started antagonizing people at the gathering.

Only the brothers and Coronado were present in the backyard when the gun was fired, she said.

Jaime Lizarraga, who admitted a gun-use allegation, is believed to have been the shooter, Bannon said.

The brothers are U.S. citizens.

Dana Littlefield • U-T

Suspects arrested after man dragged by car, laptop stolen

La Mesa

Two men suspected of stealing a laptop and then dragging the victim from their car were arrested after a short police pursuit Monday, La Mesa police said.

The victim told police that two men grabbed his laptop computer about 2:30 p.m. near La Mesa Boulevard and Acacia Avenue and then sped off in a red car. The victim grabbed onto the car as it fled, causing him to be dragged about 50 feet. He was taken to a hospital for unspecified injuries.

A witness took a photograph of the car’s license plate, leading officers to the owner’s address in Spring Valley, police said.

As police arrived, they noticed a Smart car pulling out of the garage. Officers followed the car onto state Route 94 and stopped it near Bancroft Drive.

The driver and passenger both ran from the car. The driver was subdued after being shot with a Taser, and the passenger was found near Kenwood Drive, police said. The stolen laptop was found in the vehicle.

Nathaniel Gaines, 18, of Spring Valley, and Dontrez McCraney, 18, of La Mesa, were arrested on suspicion of robbery. McCraney was also wanted in connection with an unrelated case involving assault with a deadly weapon, police said.

Kristina Davis • U-T

Elevated fire danger brings forest campfire restrictions

Cleveland National Forest

Higher temperatures and brittle vegetation has led officials of the Cleveland National Forest to raise fire restrictions to an “elevated” level.

Under the restrictions, charcoal and campfires will be allowed only in identified developed campgrounds and developed picnic areas with designated fire rings.